Control valve for hydronic installations

Abstract

 Control valve (10) for hydronic installations, namely differential pressure control valve or double regulating balancing valve, comprising: a valve housing (11) providing a valve inlet (12), a valve outlet (13) and a valve seat (16), said valve inlet and valve outlet being connectable into at least one pipe of the hydronic installation; a valve plunger (17) acting together with the valve seat (16), whereby the control valve is closed when the valve plunger is pressed against the valve seat, and whereby the valve is opened when the valve plunger is lifted up from the valve seat; pressure test valves (15) being assigned to the valve housing (11) for measuring the pressure within the valve inlet (12) and/or for measuring the pressure within the valve outlet (13) of the valve housing, whereby said pressure test valves (15) are connected with said valve housings through connection terminals (14); whereby each pressure test valve (15) comprises a first part (18) being partly inserted in the respective connection terminal of the valve housing (11) and a second part being connectable to the first part (18) by clicking together the first part and the second part of the respective pressure test valve (Figure 1).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a control valve for hydronic installations as defined in the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] In hydronic heating or cooling installations, for example in two-pipe heating systems, a hydronic medium tempered by a heat exchanger, for example by a heating boiler, is provided to heating or cooling devices, for example to heating radiators, through at least one supply pipe, whereby the hydronic medium is returned back from the heating or cooling devices to the heat exchanger by at least one return pipe. It is necessary to provide a defined flow within the heating or cooling installation and to provide a defined pressure differential between the supply pipe and the return pipe. This is a significant requirement for an efficient operation of a hydronic heating or cooling installation.

[0003] In order to provide a defined flow within the heating or cooling installation, a so-called double regulating balancing valve (DRV valve) is used and installed e.g. in the supply pipe of the hydronic installations. In order to provide a defined pressure differential between the supply pipe and the return pipe of the heating or cooling installation, a so-called differential pressure control valve (DPC valve) is used and installed between the supply pipe and the return pipe of the hydronic installation. The double regulating balancing valve and the differential pressure control valve are both control valves of the hydronic installation. The present invention relates to such hydronic control valves.

[0004] Control valves for hydronic installations known from practical use comprise a valve housing and a valve plunger. The valve housing provides a valve inlet, a valve outlet and a valve seat. The valve plunger is acting together with the valve seat provided by the valve housing, whereby the control valve is closed when the valve plunger is pressed against the valve seat, and whereby the control valve is opened when the valve plunger is lifted up from the valve seat.

[0005] Control valves for hydronic installations known from practical use further comprise pressure test valves (PT valves) being assigned to the valve housing for measuring the pressure within the valve inlet and/or for measuring the pressure within the valve outlet of the valve housing. Usually, a control valve for hydronic installations comprises two pressure test valves, namely a first pressure test valve assigned to the valve inlet for measuring the pressure within the valve inlet and a second pressure test valve assigned to the valve outlet for measuring the pressure within the valve outlet. From the pressure difference between the pressure within the valve inlet and the pressure within the valve outlet it is possible to determine the flow rate through the control valve.

[0006] The pressure test valves are connected with the valve housing of a control valve for hydronic installations through connection terminals. The connection of the pressure test valves to said connection terminals is quite complex for control valves known from practical use. Tools are required for the connection of the pressure test valves.

[0007] Against this background, a novel control valve for hydronic installations is provided allowing an easy connection of the pressure test valves to the valve housing of the control valve. According to the present invention, each pressure test valve comprises a first part being partly inserted in the respective connection terminal of the valve housing and a second part being connectable to the first part by clicking together the first part and the second part of the respective pressure test valve. Without the need of tools by simply clicking the second part to the first part the respective pressure test valve is completed and able to measure the pressure with the respective valve housing part, namely within the valve inlet or within the valve outlet of the control valve.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the first part and the second part of each pressure test valve each comprise an outer housing providing a cavity in which a movable sealing pin and a spring element are positioned, said spring elements each provide a spring force which tends to press the respective sealing pin against a sealing seat provided in the cavity of the respective housing.

[0009] When the first part and the second part of a pressure test valve are disconnected, the spring elements of the first and second parts press the respective sealing pin against the respective sealing seat.

[0010] When an end of the first part of a pressure test valve becomes inserted into an end of the respective second part of the pressure test valve in order to connect the first part and the second part, the sealing pins of the parts are first still pressed against their sealing seats by the respective spring element, whereby a sealing element assigned to the end of the second part seals against the adjacent end of the first part being inserted into the end of the second part, and whereby thereafter adjacent ends of the sealing pins come into contact with each other.

[0011] When the first part of the pressure test valve becomes further inserted into the respective second part of the pressure test valve, the sealing pins of both parts are moved against the spring force provided by the respective spring element thereby lifting up the sealing pins from the sealing seats and thereby allowing the flow of the hydronic medium from the first part into the second part of the respective pressure test valve. With the continued insertion of the first part into the second part a locking element assigned to the second part of the respective pressure test valve overcomes a shoulder on an exterior surface of the housing of the first part and enters subsequently into a recess on the exterior surface of the housing of the first part thereby clicking together the first part and the second part of the respective pressure test valve.

[0012] Preferred developments of the invention are provided by the dependent claims and the description which follows. Exemplary embodiments are explained in more detail on the basis of the drawing, in which:

Figure 1

shows a cross sectional view of a control valve for hydronic installations;

Figure 2

shows a first part of a pressure test valve of such a control valve;

Figure 3

shows a second part of a pressure test valve of such a control valve;

Figure 4

shows the first part of Figure 2 together with the second part of Figure 3, whereby a second end of said first part is partly inserted into a first end of the second part; and

Figure 5

shows the first part of Figure 2 together with the second part of Figure 3, whereby the second end of said first part is completely inserted into the first end of the second part thereby clicking the first part and the second part together.

[0013] The present invention relates to a control valve for hydronic heating or cooling installations, especially to a differential pressure control valve or a double regulating balancing valve. Figure 1 shows a cross section through such a control valve 10, namely through a double regulating balancing valve. The principle functionality of such a differential pressure control valve or a double regulating balancing valve is known to the person skilled in the art.

[0014] The control valve 10 comprises a valve housing 11. The valve housing 11 comprises a valve inlet 12, a valve outlet 13 and connection terminals 14 for pressure test valves 15. Said valve inlet 12 and valve outlet 13 of the valve housing 11 are connectable into at least one pipe of a hydronic installation.

[0015] The valve housing 11 provides a valve seat 16. A valve plunger 17 acts together with the valve seat 16. The control valve 10 is closed when the valve plunger 17 is pressed against the valve seat 16. The control valve 10 is opened when the valve plunger 17 is lifted up from the valve seat 16.

[0016] As mentioned above, pressure test valves 15 are assigned to the control valve 10. A first pressure test valve 15 is assigned to the valve inlet 12 for measuring the pressure within the valve inlet 12 and a second pressure test valve 15 is assigned to the valve outlet 13 for measuring the pressure within the valve outlet 13. From the pressure difference between the pressure within the valve inlet 12 and the pressure within the valve outlet 13 it is possible to determine the flow rate through the control valve 10. The pressure test valves 15 are inserted in the connection terminals 14 of the valve housing 11 of the control valve 10.

[0017] Each pressure test valve 15 comprises a first part 18 being partly inserted in and partly positioned within the respective connection terminal 14 of the valve housing 11 and a second part 19 being connectable to the first part 18 by clicking together the first part 18 and the second part 19 of the respective pressure test valve 15. No tools are required to connect both parts 18 and 19 together. The invention provides a control valve 10 for hydronic installations having pressure test valves 15 which can be connected in a quick and easy way by simply clicking together the second part 19 to the first part 18 the respective pressure test valve 15.

[0018] The first part 18 of each pressure test valve 15 comprises a first end 20 being positioned inside the respective connection terminal 14 and a second end 21 being positioned inside a first end 22 of the respective second part 19 of the pressure test valve 15 when the first part 18 and the second part 19 of the pressure test valves 15 are clicked together. The first part 18 of each pressure test valve 15 can also be called male part and the second part 19 of each pressure test valve 15 can also be called female part. Figure 1 shows only the first/male parts 18 of the pressure test valves 15 being inserted with their first ends 20 into the respective connection terminal 14. The second ends 21 of said first parts 18 of the pressure test valves 15 are in Figure 1 covered by a protection cap 23.

[0019] The first part 18 and the second part 19 of each pressure test valve 15 each comprise an outer housing 24, 25 providing a cavity 26, 27 in which a movable sealing pin 28, 29 and a spring element 30, 31 are positioned. Said spring elements 30, 31 each provide a spring force which tends to press the respective sealing pin 28, 29 against a sealing seat 32, 33 provided in the cavity 26, 27 of the respective housing 24, 25.

[0020] The sealing seats 32, 33 are provided by a conical contour or a chamfer of the respective cavities 26, 27.

[0021] As shown in Figures 2 to 5, each sealing pin 28, 29 carries a sealing element 34, 35 which is pressed against the respective sealing seat 32, 33 by the respective spring element 30, 31. Said sealing elements 34, 35 are provided by O-Rings.

[0022] The sealing pins 28, 29 of the first part 18 and the second part 19 of each pressure test valve 15 are guided by supporting means 36, 37 allowing a relative movement between the supporting means 36, 37 and the sealing pin 28, 29 of the respective part 18, 19 of the respective pressure test valve 15. The supporting means 36, 37 allow a flow of the hydronic medium through the same.

[0023] When the first part 18 and the second part 19 of a pressure test valve 15 (see Figures 2 and 3) are disconnected, the spring elements 30, 31 of the first and second parts 18, 19 press the respective sealing pin 28, 29, namely the sealing element 34, 35 carried by the same, against the respective sealing seat 32, 33.

[0024] When the first part 18 and the second part 19 of a pressure test valve 15 (see Figure 4) are to be connected, the second end 21 of the first part 18 of a pressure test valve 15 becomes inserted into the first end 22 of the respective second part 19 of the pressure test valve 15. At the beginning of this insertion, the sealing pins 28, 29 of the parts 18, 19 are still pressed against their sealing seats 32, 33 by the respective spring element 30, 31. A sealing element 38 assigned to the first end 22 of the second part 19 seals against the second end 21 of the first part 18 being inserted into the first end 22 of the second part 19. Said sealing element 38 is provided by an O-Ring. Adjacent ends 39 of the sealing pins 28, 29 come into contact.

[0025] With the further insertion of the first part 18 into the respective second part 19 the sealing pins 28, 29 of both parts 18, 19 are moved against the spring force provided by the respective spring element 30, 31 thereby lifting up the sealing pins 28, 29 from the sealing seats 32, 33 and thereby allowing the flow of the hydronic medium from the first part into the second part of the respective pressure test valve 15 (see Figure 5).

[0026] With the further continued insertion of the first part 18 into the respective second part 19 of the pressure test valve 15 a locking element 40 assigned to the second part 19 of the respective pressure test valve 15 overcomes a shoulder 41 on an exterior surface of the housing 24 of the first part 18 and enters subsequently into a recess 42 on the exterior surface of the housing 24 of the first part 18 thereby clicking together the first part 18 and the second part 19 of the respective pressure test valve 15.

[0027] Both parts 18, 19 of the pressure test valve can be disconnected by an unlocking mechanism 43 comprising a handle 44 and a spring 45. By moving said handle 44 against the spring force of said spring 45 the locking element 40 can be released thereby allowing the disconnection of both parts 18, 19 by moving the second end 21 of the first part 18 out of the first end 22 of the second part 19. During this disconnection the spring elements 30, 31 of both parts 18, 19 tend to press the sealing pins 28, 29 or sealing elements 34, 35 carried by the same against the sealing seats 32, 33. The sealing pins 28, 29 or sealing elements 34, 35 carried by the same are pressed against the sealing seats 32, 33 before the sealing between the two parts 18, 19 provided by the sealing element 38 is discontinued.

[0028] The connection between the two parts 18, 19 is secure and sealed. During the connection and disconnection leakage of the hydronic medium is prevented.

[0029] The cavities 26, 27 and sealing pins 28, 29 of the parts 18, 19 have a smooth profile or shape being free of undercuts or the like. Particles which may be contained in the hydronic medium can not be stored within the cavities 26, 27 when connecting and disconnecting both parts 18, 19. During connection and disconnection of both parts 18, 19 all such articles are flushed away.

[0030] In connection with this flushing effect it is of importance that a difference between an inner diameter of the cavities 26, 27 and the outer diameter of the sealing pins 28, 29 is larger than the size of the particles which may be contained in the hydronic medium. This diameter difference defining a gap between the inner diameter of the cavities 26, 27 and the outer diameter of the sealing pins 28, 29 is preferably larger than 0,2 mm. All particles can therefore be flushed away during connection and disconnection of both parts 18, 19.

[0031] During disconnection of both parts 18, 19 the gap between the sealing elements 34, 35 and the sealing seats 32, 33 provided by the conical contours or chamfers of the respective cavity 26, 27 decreases which results in an increase of the flow speed of the hydronic medium through this gap thereby flushing away all particles which may stuck on the sealing elements 34, 35 and/or the sealing seats 32, 33 and which may have a negative effect on the sealing quality.

List of reference signs

[0032] 

10

control valve

11

valve housing

12

valve inlet

13

valve outlet

14

connection terminal

15

pressure test valve

16

valve seat

17

valve plunger

18

first part of pressure test valve

19

second part of pressure test valve

20

first end of first part of pressure test valve

21

second end of first part of pressure test valve

22

first end of second part of pressure test valve

23

protection cap

24

outer housing

25

outer housing

26

cavity

27

cavity

28

sealing pin

29

sealing pin

30

spring element

31

spring element

32

sealing seat

33

sealing seat

34

sealing element

35

sealing element

36

supporting means

37

supporting means

38

sealing element

39

end of sealing pin

40

locking element

41

shoulder

42

recess

43

unlocking mechanism

44

handle

45

spring

Claims

1. Control valve for hydronic installations, especially differential pressure control valve or double regulating balancing valve, comprising:

a valve housing (11) providing a valve inlet (12), a valve outlet (13) and a valve seat (16), said valve inlet (12) and valve outlet (13) being connectable into at least one pipe of the hydronic installation;

a valve plunger (17) acting together with the valve seat (16), whereby the control valve is closed when the valve plunger (17) is pressed against the valve seat (16), and whereby the valve is opened when the valve plunger (17) is lifted up from the valve seat (16);

pressure test valves (15) being assigned to the valve housing (11) for measuring the pressure within the valve inlet (12) and/or for measuring the pressure within the valve outlet (13) of the valve housing (11), whereby said pressure test valves (15) are connected with said valve housings (11) through connection terminals (14);

characterized in that

each pressure test valve (15) comprises a first part (18) being partly inserted in the respective connection terminal (14) of the valve housing (11) and a second part (19) being connectable to the first part (18) by clicking together the first part (18) and the second part (19) of the respective pressure test valve.

2. Control valve as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first part (18) of each pressure test valve (15) comprises a first end (20) being positioned inside the respective connection terminal (14) and a second end (21) being positioned inside a first end (22) of the respective second part (19) of the pressure test valve (15) when the first part (18) and the second part (19) of the pressure test valves (15) are clicked together.

3. Control valve as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first part (18) and the second part (19) of each pressure test valve (15) each comprise an outer housing (24, 25) providing a cavity (26, 27) in which a movable sealing pin (28, 29) and a spring element (30, 31) are positioned, said spring elements each provide a spring force which tends to press the respective sealing pin against a sealing seat (32, 33) provided in the cavity of the respective housing.

4. Control valve as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the sealing pins (28, 29) of the first part (18) and the second part (19) of each pressure test valve (15) carries a sealing element (34, 35) which is pressed against the respective sealing seat (32, 33) by the respective spring element (30, 31).

5. Control valve as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the sealing pins (28, 29) of the first part (18) and the second part (19) of each pressure test valve (15) are guided by supporting means (36, 37) allowing a relative movement between the supporting means (36, 37) and the sealing pin (28, 29) of the respective part of the respective pressure test valve (15).

6. Control valve as claimed in one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that when the second end (21) of the first part (18) of a pressure test valve (15) becomes inserted into the first end (22) of the respective second part (19) of the pressure test valve the sealing pins (28, 29) of the parts are pressed against their sealing seats (32, 33) by the respective spring element, and a sealing element (38) assigned to the first end of the second part (19) seals against the second end of the first part (18) being inserted into the first end of the second part (19), and adjacent ends (39) of the sealing pins come into contact, whereby with the further insertion of the first part (18) into the respective second part (19) the sealing pins (28, 29) of both parts are moveable against the spring force provided by the respective spring element (30, 31) thereby lifting up the sealing pins from the sealing seats and thereby allowing the flow of the hydronic medium from the first part into the second part of the respective pressure test valve (15).

7. Control valve as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that with the insertion of the first part (18) into the second part (19) a locking element (39) assigned to the second part (19) of the respective pressure test valve (15) overcomes a shoulder (40) on a exterior surface of the housing of the first part (18) and enters subsequently into a recess (41) on the exterior surface of the housing of the first part (18) thereby clicking together the first part (18) and the second part (19) of the respective pressure test valve (15).

8. Control valve as claimed in claim 7, characterized by an unlocking mechanism (43) comprising a handle (44) and a spring (45), whereby the locking element (40) can be released by moving said handle (44) against the spring force of said spring (45) thereby allowing the disconnection of the first part (18) and the second part (19).

9. Control valve as claimed in one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the cavities (26, 27) and sealing pins (28, 29) of the parts (18, 19) have a smooth profile or shape.

10. Control valve as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a difference between an inner diameter of the cavities (26, 27) and an outer diameter of the sealing pins (28, 29) is larger than the size of the particles which may be contained in the hydronic medium.

11. Control valve as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the difference between the inner diameter of the cavities (26, 27) and the outer diameter of the sealing pins (28, 29) is larger than 0,2 mm.

12. Pressure test valve for a hydronic control valve, namely for a differential pressure control valve or double regulating balancing valve, for measuring the pressure within a valve inlet (12) or within a valve outlet (13) of a valve housing (11) of said hydronic control valve, characterized by a first part (18) being partly insertable in a connection terminal (14) of the valve housing (11) and a second part (19) being connectable to the first part (18) by clicking together the first part (18) and the second part (19) of the respective pressure test valve (15).

13. Pressure test valve as claimed in claim 12, characterized by features of one of claims 2 to 11.

Drawing